Loyalty and the NFL

Over the last few weeks I've read hundreds of individual opinions regarding roster moves made or discussed in the NFL.  Many of these opinions were based primarily if not wholly upon a concept known as loyalty.  Websters defines loyalty as " unswerving in allegiance" or being " faithful to a cause, ideal, custom, institution, or product."  I believe this trait is all but nonexistant in professional sports as they are today. 

Loyalty cannot be defined by years, yet years cannot defeat loyalty.  Loyalty is unbending, absolute, and lasting.  Once declared, loyalty cannot be breached.  Loyalty demands this, and by its very definition requires it.  Loyalty breached is loyalty lost.

Professional sports, by their nature, deal entirely upon the temporary.  What is considered an important decision today is often irrelevant less than a decade later.  Players that will be inshrined in the Hall of Fame rarely play the game longer than fifteen years.  The average player stays with one team for less than two years.  Contracts that are sometimes written for a decade, are often voided less than half of the way through. Even franchises change towns every few years.  Players know this.  Teams know this.  Fans, although reluctantly, know it as well.  There is very little permanence in sports.  Yes, we will probably always have the Dallas Cowboys, or the New York Yankees, yet this is the exception rather than the rule. 

Loyalty is often demanded of players by fans, yet it is impractical at best for them. How can a player owe loyalty to an organization that has none for him?  They, like us, need to prioritize thier lives.  We excercise the options given to us by free will, and should remember to respect their right to do as they choose.

The only true loyalty in sports is entirely set in the fanbase.  As fans, we are often permanently devoted to a temporary institution.  We root with all our souls for players that we have a realistic chance to one day abhor.  We argue,spat and openly curse fans of other franchises, while ignoring that they are people who share our greatest interest, football.  We even argue with each other, those of like mind.  We argue about topics that we generally agree on and with people we generally enjoy.  We get upset and often irate over a subject that we should reserve for pleasure.  In all, we bring too much negativity into a positive subject. 

I would like to propose an idea.  Root for your team.  Enjoy the game.  Pull for your favorite player, but remember to respect him even if the twists of fate take him to a rival.  Keep the rivalry between fans, yet remember that they deserve your respect as well, after all, you expect it from them.  Above all, remember that its just a game, and have fun.